Steve Black’s Haunted Halloween music selections: Part 2: Werewolves
The mythology of the werewolf can be traced back as far as the 16th century. It became part of European folklore with especially strong ties to Germany and Austria. In America, Michigan holds some of the earliest tales of these shape-shifting creatures known as the Loup-Garu.
The more modern version of The Werewolf started with the classic black and white films of the 1930s and 40s. First played by Henry Hull, and later more famously by Lon Chaney Jr. The Werewolf also seems to be a favorite in the world of rock & roll songs.
Here are a few of my favorites:
Of Wolf and Man – Metallica: With lyrics that include “Bright is the moon, high in starlight. Chill in the air cold as steel tonight we shift. Call of the wild, Fear in your eyes. It’s later than you realized.” There is no way to mistake what the song is about. Shape-shift indeed.
Bark at the Moon – Ozzy Osbourne: I once read it took 9 hours to glue all the real human hair onto Ozzy for the official video. That is commitment my friends. The song also includes some of the finest guitar work in any Ozzy song period…and you don’t just sing along you howl along….Screams (certainly do) break the Silence.
Werewolves of London – Warren Zevon: Sure It falls on the fun, happy, let’s go collect some candy side of Halloween, not the classic horror/Haunted House side but who can resist a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand?
Wolf Moon – Type O-Negative: Welcome to the dark yet romantic side of being cursed. You knew if such a thing existed, Type O would be the ones to find it.
Run With the Wolf – Rainbow: Nobody can sell myths, legends and a fantastical setting like the great Ronnie James Dio…. Sing along “There’s a hole in the sky. Something evil’s passing by. What’s to come when the siren calls you go? To run with the wolf?”
Fort Six & 2 – Tool: While technically not a werewolf song, it is a song whose lyrics can easily be seen as one. Interpretation as they say is up to the listener. I read these very much like a man bitten in the light of the full moon. “I’ve been crawling on my belly, clearing out what could’ve been. I’ve been wallowing in my own chaotic insecure delusions. I wanna feel the change consume me, Feel the outside turning in. I wanna feel the metamorphosis and cleansing I’ve endured in”.
